Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Cornus kousa

Chinese Dogwood · Japanese Dogwood · Korean Dogwood · Kousa Dogwood

Family CornaceaeGenus Cornus

A broad spreading tree smothered in white bracts, growing beside a house under a clear blue sky
The whole plantFamartinCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Perennial, Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
20-30 ft6.1-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
15-30 ft4.6-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Inner Mongolia, Japan and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Resists dogwood anthracnose, unlike the flowering dogwood, which is very susceptible. The sweet pulp of its berry is edible raw; the rind is usually discarded. Wikipedia: Cornus kousa

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 20, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 19, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 49 days.

38% germination in 28–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. kousa germ. best in 40(26% in 5-9 w) for fresh seed, 40(25% in 4-5 w) for another sample of fresh seed, 40(22% in 3-4 w)-70(11%) for seed DS 6 m at 70, and 40(38% in 4-7 w)-70(8%)-40-70(8%) for seed DS 6 m at 40. This shows that DS seed germ. as well as fresh seed. Seed started at 70 germ. in an extended manner, for example 70(3%)-40(7%)-70(11%)-40-70(21%) for fresh seed, so that it is inconvenient although the final percent germinations are comparable to sowing at 40. Outdoor treatment is yet to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 2, in 63 days.

26% germination in 35–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. kousa germ. best in 40(26% in 5-9 w) for fresh seed, 40(25% in 4-5 w) for another sample of fresh seed, 40(22% in 3-4 w)-70(11%) for seed DS 6 m at 70, and 40(38% in 4-7 w)-70(8%)-40-70(8%) for seed DS 6 m at 40. This shows that DS seed germ. as well as fresh seed. Seed started at 70 germ. in an extended manner, for example 70(3%)-40(7%)-70(11%)-40-70(21%) for fresh seed, so that it is inconvenient although the final percent germinations are comparable to sowing at 40. Outdoor treatment is yet to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 2, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 35 days.

25% germination in 28–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. kousa germ. best in 40(26% in 5-9 w) for fresh seed, 40(25% in 4-5 w) for another sample of fresh seed, 40(22% in 3-4 w)-70(11%) for seed DS 6 m at 70, and 40(38% in 4-7 w)-70(8%)-40-70(8%) for seed DS 6 m at 40. This shows that DS seed germ. as well as fresh seed. Seed started at 70 germ. in an extended manner, for example 70(3%)-40(7%)-70(11%)-40-70(21%) for fresh seed, so that it is inconvenient although the final percent germinations are comparable to sowing at 40. Outdoor treatment is yet to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    11 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

22% germination in 21–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. kousa germ. best in 40(26% in 5-9 w) for fresh seed, 40(25% in 4-5 w) for another sample of fresh seed, 40(22% in 3-4 w)-70(11%) for seed DS 6 m at 70, and 40(38% in 4-7 w)-70(8%)-40-70(8%) for seed DS 6 m at 40. This shows that DS seed germ. as well as fresh seed. Seed started at 70 germ. in an extended manner, for example 70(3%)-40(7%)-70(11%)-40-70(21%) for fresh seed, so that it is inconvenient although the final percent germinations are comparable to sowing at 40. Outdoor treatment is yet to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    11 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 12 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

21% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. kousa germ. best in 40(26% in 5-9 w) for fresh seed, 40(25% in 4-5 w) for another sample of fresh seed, 40(22% in 3-4 w)-70(11%) for seed DS 6 m at 70, and 40(38% in 4-7 w)-70(8%)-40-70(8%) for seed DS 6 m at 40. This shows that DS seed germ. as well as fresh seed. Seed started at 70 germ. in an extended manner, for example 70(3%)-40(7%)-70(11%)-40-70(21%) for fresh seed, so that it is inconvenient although the final percent germinations are comparable to sowing at 40. Outdoor treatment is yet to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page